Mont Ventoux earned its nickname "Giant of Provence" due to its regional location facing the Alps to the north, and the Mediterranean sea to the south. It is a land bathed in vineyards, orchards and lavender, where people like to settle down for the holidays.

This is a sport-lover's paradise, with the challenge of climbing the Mount, as well as cycling, or hiking. During winter, Mont Ventoux becomes a ski resort, where skiing and snowshoeing is enjoyed by visitors. The place is also a "terroir" of flavors, with truffles, Mount Venasque cherries, and Carpentras strawberries.

Mont Ventoux and Cycling

Every year cyclists think of Tom Simpson, whom Bradley Wiggins idolized, as he died on the slopes of the Ventoux 46 years ago. Appearing on the Tour course in 1951, the “Giant of Provence” was the finish of a stage in 1958, for a time trial that helped Charly Gaul accomplish his final Tour victory. The first bunch stage to finish at the top was won by Raymond Poulidor in 1965, but it was not enough for the Frenchman to oust Felice Gimondi from the overall lead.

The last visit to the Ventoux in 2009 was also marked by an exceptional crowd lining the roads of a stage won by Juan Manuel Garate. In the meantime, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Thevenet and Jean-Francois Bernard, in a fantastic time trial in 1987, had beaten the mountain, like the two exceptional climbers, Marco Pantani and Richard Virenque.

Not to miss around Mont Ventoux...

The richness and variety of its unique flora and fauna have led to it being classified Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.